THE SPIDER CRABS OF AMERICA 387 



elusive of preorbital spine. Two rows of spines above palm, Propo- 

 dites of legs long and slender. 



Description. — A large species, resembling M. spinosissimus, the 

 dorsum being armed with short, sharp spines. Carapace and ap- 

 pendages covered with a short woolly pubescence; legs furnished 

 also with rather scanty, long, fine hairs. Rostral horns regularly 

 tapering, much longer in the young than in the old. In small speci- 

 mens the rostrum is contained from two and two-thirds to three 

 and one-half times in remaining carapace-length. Besides the pre- 

 orbital spine and the 2 spines of the antennal segment, there are 6 

 spines on the margin of the orbit, 3 inferior and lateral, 3 superior, 

 according to A. Milne Edwards. In the specimen in hand there is 

 still another superior spine — that is, 4 in all — of which 2 are on the 

 outer slope of the preorbital spine, next one larger, independent, 

 fourth one smallest, on the inner slope of the extraorbital spine. 

 This last is not shown by A. Milne Edwards, although his figure has 

 an unequal number of spines on the two orbits. In small specimens, 

 under 33 mm. long, there are only 2 spines on the supraorbital mar- 

 gin, between the supraocular and postocular spines. Antero-lateral 

 spines 4, the first or hepatic spine being triple, the other spines double, 

 or with a secondary spine in front of the primary spine; fourth spine 

 situated at the lateral angle of the carapace, opposite the gastro- 

 cardiac suture and a little below the level of the line of the preced- 

 ing spines; a shorter postlateral spine, also one similar to the latter, 

 a little higher up on the dorsal surface. The longest spine of the basal 

 antennal segment has 2 or 3 spinules on its outer margin in a medium- 

 sized specimen (32717) ; a small sharp spine is at the base of the fol- 

 lowing segment of the antenna. 



Chelipeds stout, longer than any of the legs in the male; about 5 

 rows of spines on the merus, the spines of the 2 upper rows longest 

 and sharpest; carpus armed with a number of sharp spines; hand 

 elongate armed with 2 rows of spines above. Two rows of long 

 spines and 2 rows of short spines on the merus joints of the legs; 

 carpus joints armed with long spines; propodus joints long, narrow, 

 subcylindrical and little roughened. Dactyli long and slender. 



Color. — -Yellowish or rosy; often rose-color (Saussuro). 



Measurementfi. — Male (Martinique), length of carapace 92, width 

 90; length of manus 82, length of legs of first pair 135 mm. (A. 

 Milne Edwards). Femah^ (Martinique), length of carapace 65, 

 width 59, length of manus 33, length of legs of first pair 90 mm. 

 (A. Milne Edwards). Female (32717), total length of carapace 40.4, 

 length without horns 31.5, width without spines 26, with spines 

 32 mm. 



Range. — From Florida Straits (46 miles south of Key West), 589 

 fathoms (Miers), to Bahia, Brazil, in shallow water. Dominica, 40 



